Amplifier for pulses



Patented July 7, 1953 Glenn ample, p loud .ifiNorthrop 'Aircraftslnc. corporationof California,

Application Mey 21., 1951, serial No, 221398 soumis# (ci. 315-168) larly those wherei-n a-minimuin `dii'i'veightfisf required, it is advantageous -to utilizefagasecus conduction Itube for pulse-amplification,- thereby reducing power demand below-f "at whichlisre-A quire'd'if hot cathodefdevicesiai i It is ani-objectcfthefinventi'onfto: novel pulse-amplifierA andfcircui't. *.1 1

Brielly, "the: Ypresent:'im/entier; comprises an envelopecontaining a gasat glow dischargepressureand a: cold cathode, artanode, andganlinput electrode inY saidilenvelope. ih'lhek pulsefarnplier has'v means for autornaticallyl extinguishing al -dis'' chargey once v'startedgf'thereby 1g ving ris'fftoan outputfin theform offa', p'ul i i n iv The presentrapplication'i a divisionfofmy prior application Serial Noli 99,09-Eg filed Julie 14, 19119, entitled' ViVoltage r-Re'gulaited Multiple' YAXIrpl-iile'r Eliof'pul'seg." 1 e 1 Thel drawingY shows,VA in schematic diagram form, one preferred"tube-1Sand1circuit vRuf-:operation of a plurality ofl the pu -amplifyingfun-its of th'epresent inventio 1 i In the drawing(v nfienvelope I kis preferably elongated to-` contain-raf pl-'ralit'yll-o electrode assemblies, in thislspcic instance, four, as follows: X, R, P and QY u l ElectrodeA assembly is' `1`preferably'r positioned at one end'of theevelope" I'iandjscoinprises a glow discharge cathode 2 and a glow discharge anode 3. The three electrode assembliesR, P andQl'are identical and eaclrcomprises laffamplifiercathode ii, an amplier anode 5, and an amplier input electrode 6. As the amplifying electrode assemblies are small, 50 or 100 or more of them may be placed along the same envelope, as may be desired for the computer in which the pulse ampliers are to 'be utilized.

In assembly X, the cathode 2 is connected directly to ground, and the anode 3 is connected to the positive path of a main power source I through a supply resistor 8, and the negative side cf the power source I is grounded. The source potential is such that a continuous glow discharge is maintained between electrodes 2 and 3 of assembly X.

At a point Y, between resistor 8 and anode 3 of assembly X, the negative pole of a booster battery I or similar source is connected, and the opposite, positive pole of this latter battery I0 is extended as an anode line II. The anodes of electrodes assemblies R, P and Q are connected to anode line II through separate anode resistors I2.

.- Hzgemmewndale, Calif., assignmto Hawthorne, Calif., a

' output 1in-es o; s andI 'r are connected tetue respectiveanodes ofelectro'de assemblies R, VP andjQ through blocking condensers I4. j Theres'pective' input electrodes 6 of assemblies RQQP and Q- are connected to input.lines1vyN, U and. .V through" separate input capacities I'5,z'in'd each input electrode'y is connected to-` ground through'a resistor` IIl and a small input glow batteryfl'l. v'CL-*flow batteries I1 .have voltages just below the striking voltages between input elec-y trodes I`v and cathcdes 4; y each'of they assemblies R, Pand Q have tiieiiown inputand' output lines. Theianodevvoltagelowever, of' each'v of,` the electrode assemblies R',`Pa11d Q'y lsthelajndefvolti age of Yelectrode assembly X plus the voltage-of bOSTbtGTY my Y VIn operation of a specificl circuit as shown; .for example, source `1`j may" provide 500 v. potential for the cifintln'uous,'g'l'w'discharge inl electrode assembly Xl current supplying thisglew o'w's through' supply resistor 8, thereby 'causing point Y tdbe at ai somewhat less potentialth'an thatof source l. Thus point-Y is at', the operating potential rof the anode 3 of 'electrodejassembuxx L e,

Booster: battery I'ili in'thiscase 100 v., tends to mak'euupithe dinerencebetween the operating pjo tentialSaty point Y, andthe strikingA potential necessary to'.v "operateA assemblies `P and iQ. However,YtheA potential of' battery Ili's not quite sufflcientJto causeuay glow discharge" to strike'be'- tweentlie c'a'th'odes'y and' a'nodes of units R, P or Q.

Thus initially, the voltages at the anodes of assemblies R, P and Q are approximately, but not quite, sufficient to cause a glow discharge to strike.

When, however, a small positive pulse, of say 5 v., is applied to one of the input electrodes 6 through input line N, for example, this pulse will start a small but signicant glow discharge between the input electrode 6 and the adjacent cathode 4 under the voltage Vfrom input glow battery II which, in the specific circuit being described, maybe v. This small glow discharge is sufficient to start a main glow discharge between the anode 5 and cathode 4 of the assembly R. The input glow, however, is immediately extinguished due to the voltage drop in resistor I6. Similarly, the current from the main glow discharge, flowing through output ref sistor I2, causes a suiloient voltage drop at anode from a normal Value and then quickly rise again to this value to form a sharp negative output pulse of an amplitude equal to the voltage of battery I0, i. e., a 100 v. negative pulse.

As the small glow discharge between the input electrode 6 and the cathode 4 of any one unit is only suicient to start a main glow discharge between the associated anode and a cathode, and the main glow of one assembly will not ilre any other, each electrode assembly is independently operable.

In the specific 500 v. circuit just described, other data are as follows:

Resistance 8:1000 ohms Resistances l2 and |6=5000 ohms Capacities I4 and l5=.005 microfarad Gas-:Helium Gas pressure=l00 mm. Hg

The effect of any change in pressure of the gaseous medium and hence a change in the operating voltages of the various electrode assemblies R, P and Q will be immediately detected by assembly X and there will be a corresponding change in the potential of point Y. The voltage of booster battery l0 is constant, hence the potential of the anodes of assemblies R, P and Q will be held just below the striking point irrespective of the change in gas pressure. Thus the assembly X adjusts the voltage supply of the A other assemblies in such a manner as to compensate for variations in the voltage requirements of assemblies R, P and vQ due to the change in gas pressure which is common to all assemblies. Constant sensitivity and uniformity of output is insured.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modiflcation in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the'statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise a preferred form of putting the 'invention into effect, and the invention is, therefore, claimed in 4 any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pulse amplifier comprising an envelope containing a gas at glow discharge pressure, an electrode assembly in said envelope including a cold cathode, an anode and an input electrode, an input source of potential connected between said cathode and input electrode through an input resistonan output source of potential connected between said cathode and anode through an output resistor, said electrode being spaced to provide a higher starting voltage between said anode and said cathode than between said input electrode and said cathode. said input and output sources of potential being of a value holding said input electrode and said anode at potentials just below their respective striking potentials, means for applying an input pulse to said input electrode to create an input glow discharge between said input electrode and cathode and thereby to initiate a main glow discharge between said anode and cathode, the drops in potential due to the current flow of said discharges through said respective input and output resistors being sufficient to extinguish said glow discharges after said input pulse has ceasedl and an output pulse connection to said anode.

2. A pulse amplifier comprising an envelope containing a gas at glow discharge pressure, a cold cathode, an anode and an input electrode in said envelope, said anode and cathode having a higher striking voltage than said input electrode and cathode, an anode source of potential between said anode and said cathode, an input source of potential between said input electrode and said cathode, said source having potential values just short of the respective striking potentials, means for applying a pulse to said input electrode to strike glow discharges between said input electrode and said cathode and between said anode and cathode, and means for creating a voltage drop due to current flow in both anodecathode, and input electrode-cathode circuits sufiicient to extinguish both glow discharges.

GLENN E. HAGEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

